Headwear During National Anthem

[Keeve]

@Monty

Swearing allegiance to a piece of cloth is treason? Interesting…

:rolleyes:

@Pledge of Allegiance

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands…

[Guinastasia]

@Keeve

:rolleyes:

:rolleyes: yourself.

As the pledge is really just a “poem”, of sorts, and has no real standing in law, it’s not treason, nor is the “pledge” any sort of official statement of allegiance.

[Monty]

@Keeve

:rolleyes:

Save it. As explained just above, that statement has no bearing in law. FYI, I’m a PO1, USN (Retired). Love of country is something I like and practice.

[Martini_Enfield]

@Guinastasia

:rolleyes: yourself.

As the pledge is really just a “poem”, of sorts, and has no real standing in law, it’s not treason, nor is the “pledge” any sort of official statement of allegiance.

Interesting indeed… Even so, it’s still a “Poem” or pledge I doubt I’d ever be comfortable making.

FWIW, I’d consider a “Pledge” to be a statement of intent, albeit not necessarily in a legal sense, though…

[Guinastasia]

@Martini Enfield

Interesting indeed… Even so, it’s still a “Poem” or pledge I doubt I’d ever be comfortable making.

FWIW, I’d consider a “Pledge” to be a statement of intent, albeit not necessarily in a legal sense, though…

And that’s perfectly all right. I’m just pointing out that it isn’t treason if you chose to do so.

[CookingWithGas]

@dancetiludrop

Here is a quote from a google Q&A board…but i’m not sure of it validity.

Well, believe it or not, it’s a federal law!

See:

U.S. CODE, TITLE 36, Sec. 301. - National anthem:

"During a rendition of the national anthem -
…
(B) men not in uniform should [other “shoulds” snipped–CWG]

IANAL but I note that in this section of code, which definitely exists as quoted (I also looked it up in the House site, the authoritative source), the word “should” is used consistently. Typically, laws make very carefully crafted use of the word “shall” to compel behavior under penalty of the law, and “will” and “should” for descriptive or less compelling direction (actually, I have never read a law that uses “should”). I can’t give you an authoritative legal opinion but I can say with certainty that these words are deliberately chosen. This part of the code may be more of a suggestion than what we normally think of as “the law.” And

[WhyNot]

@Spoons

FWIW, when I’ve been to sports events in the US with my American wife (I’m Canadian), and they play the US national anthem with honor guards and flags and whatnot, I remove my hat and stand at attention with my hat in my hand at my side.

Why? I’m not American. I’m unsure how this jibes with tomndebb’s section 171 that says “all present,” but I cannot, in good conscience, put my hand over my heart for a nation that I owe no allegiance to. That being said, however, I will stand and respect the US flag, it being the flag of the nation that is hosting me.

I don’t know how this fits in with the OP, but whenever I’ve been questioned by local seatmates on it, which has happened once or twice, my explanation of “I’m Canadian, not American” usually smooths things over. Certainly, no authorities have ever come into the stands of the stadium looking for the guy who won’t put his hand over his heart when the American national anthem plays.

Colibri’s cite says: "Aliens should stand at attention. " I think you’re an alien, correct? (And, of course, I mean that in the non-big eyed grey skinned sense.) So you’re doing it correctly.